BMC’s Cummings breaks pelvis at Algarve

February 18, 2012 — (VN) — Steve Cummings – one of the important off-season additions for Team BMC – will be sidelined for at least a month after breaking his pelvis in a crash in Friday’s climbing stage at the Volta ao Algarve.

Cummings hit the deck early in the 194.6km third stage in Portugal when another rider crashed into him while negotiating a corner.

“We were going down a little hill and this guy came from under me and hooked my handlebars,” Cummings said. “I didn’t even see it coming. You know what they say, what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger.”

BMC team doctor Giovanni Ruffini said the British climber will be off the bike entirely for two weeks and will likely miss at least one month of racing.

The mishap occurred on the same stage finish where Cummings won the stage last year ahead of now-teammate Tejay Van Garderen.

Both Cummings and Van Garderen were signed by BMC to bolster the team’s climbing credentials in the mountains, especially come July, during the Tour de France to aid defending champion Cadel Evans. Cummings still hopes to be able to return to top form in time to try to earn a spot on the squad’s Tour selection.